called to mind the power of water and charged everyone affiliated with Aquademics to advance the promise and well-being of children and to promote life skills that keep children out of harm's way. Family-Centered Leadership The transfer to a family-centered board in 1997 meant that the founders and nurturers of the organization turned governance over to the sustainers and legacy-builders of Aquademics. The shift had the immediate effect of increasing the number of children belonging to the program. Over the next two years, the group concentrated on educating area youth groups and on increasing awareness of Aquademics' mission to community leaders. In 1999, Aquademics was given a Community Recognition Award for 'Outstanding Service by an Organization' by the Trustees of Washtenaw Community College. Challenges Aquademics was a grass-roots nonprofit organization. As a result, the group obtained resources through several approaches and maintained its programs by relying on a combination of grants, business sponsorships, fund-raisers, annual giving and in-kind donations. Critical seed grants were awarded by the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation and the Southeastern Michigan Community Foundation. Original corporate sponsors included two local banks. In-kind donations came from a range of sources, from swimming kickboards to donated coaching expertise. The programs, however, were not free. Each family contributed to the funding of camp and was assessed a participation fee every season. Fund-raising was all-consuming and required major time commitments by families and volunteers who worked with Aquademics. Scaling up the program, to provide financial security and a stable source of income, proved increasingly difficult. With no endowment, the organization had to survive from season to season. Likewise, the advantage of being in an area with abundant swimming resources, also meant that Aquademics as a development or bridge program encountered some turnover to other clubs, whose goals did not require academics and cultural components. Because of all of these challenges, the board of Aquademics determined to end operations at the beginning of the 21st century. Legacy The history of Aquademics is emblematic of the success and obstacles that confront individuals and groups whose purposes are to diversify the face of an exclusive sport and to transform a sport establishment that has been neither welcoming nor accessible to large numbers of people because of discrimination. Swimming may have more to answer for. Swimming pools and beaches for water sport recreation were symbols of segregation. They became contested sites during the civil rights